Windows 10 review

It took Microsoft 30 years, but the new Start menu, Edge browser, apps and Cortana make Windows 10 the best Windows yet. Windows 10 offers plenty of new features and apps. We explore the new features and explain why they're worth having in our Windows 10 review.

Windows 10 news & updates

Since Windows 10 was released and we wrote our original review there have been several feature updates from Microsoft, with many more new features planned. The Creators Update follows the Anniversary Update as the next big update to Windows 10. Expected in Spring 2017, it will add new tools for 3D and gaming - see our dedicated article on the Creators Update.

Looking at the Anniversary Update (which was released in August 2016), certain number of new features were featured, including changes to Cortana that became a lot smarter and has a lot more added capabilities. And if you have a Surface tablet with a Surface Pen, you're able to do a whole lot more with it. As well as scribbling reminders in the sticky notes app, you can draw more easily thanks to a virtual ruler that's much like the one Apple added to its Notes app back in iOS 9.

Microsoft has also demonstrated the ability to pick two points on a map with the Pen and quickly see the distance between them, plus directions. You can also annotate maps and share them with friends. Your annotated route will "stick" to the map when you change to a 3D view.

The "ink workspace" offers a dedicated place on the desktop where you'll see a list of recent as well as suggested pen-enabled apps in the Windows Store.

And talking of the store, the Anniversary Update is also available to the Xbox One, so you'll now see just one app store across PCs and consoles, and it will bring desktop apps to the Xbox. Better still, you can play games and save game progress between Xbox and Windows 10.

(On the subject of Xbox, at Gamescom 2016, which was held a little later in August, Aaron Greenberg announcedthat Xbox Game Preview is coming to Windows 10 soon. The first game will be Everspace, but there will be "many more to come". It's Microsoft's answer to Steam Early Access and lets gamers on Windows 10 try out unfinished games (even buy them) and offer feedback to improve them before they're officially released. Titles including ReCore, Forza Horizon 3, We Happy Few, Cuphead, Gears of War 4, and Halo Wars 2 will also be coming to Windows 10 in the next 12 months and all were available to play on PCs at Gamescom.)

Windows Hello already lets you log into your PC with your face or your fingerprint, but Hello support has now been added to Edge, allowing you to log into websites the same way: no more remembering which email address, username or password you need for each site.

What is Windows 10?

Microsoft in late 2014 took the wraps off the Technical Preview of its next Windows operating system, and in doing so it took everyone by surprise. We expected the next generation of Windows: we just didn't expect it to be called Windows 10. None the less here is Windows 10: the next Windows OS for PCs and laptops, smartphones and tablets. And, indeed, an OS for servers and all points inbetween.

Microsoft said that Windows 10 is built from the ground up for a world in which mobile- and cloud computing are key. Execs from the company said it was committed to making Windows 10 friendly for the enterprise, ideal for keyboard and mouse users, but also optimised for touch. Oh, and Windows 10 will put the same interface on devices with displays ranging in size from 4in to 80in. 'One product family, one platform, one store,' said Microsoft.

Given the lukewarm reaction to compromised Windows 8, these seem like bold claims. They are necessary, though. Also necessary is Microsoft's decision to make Windows 10 the most beta-tested product it has ever released. Windows 10 was tested by over 4 million people around the world before its launch.

That doesn't mean it's perfect - indeed some people won't like the privacy issues (see far below) or the forced updates. Others won't like the new Start menu or the fact that there's now both a Control Panel and separate Settings app. But these won't be issues for most people - minor gripes at worst - and the improvements, new apps and new features make it well worth upgrading. For more detail on this, see: Should I upgrade to Windows 10?

In early 2016, Microsoft has announced it will acquire Xamarin. You've probably never heard of that company, but it's important because it will allow developers to more easily produce apps which will run on Windows (and Windows 10 mobile) in addition to iOS and Android. Back in 2014, Microsoft boasted of the Universal Windows Platform which meant apps would run on everything from a phone to a full-size PC (and beyond - including the Xbox One). However, that's hardly universal if you're a developer writing apps for iOS and Android.

The death knell has been sounding for Windows phone for a while now, but several Windows 10 mobile devices were launched at MWC so the platform isn't dead just yet.

Comments

tregg199869874 - 21:54 21-04-2018

Easy to say when you have a brand new computer to use every 3 months. The rest of us got jacked by this terrible, awful os.

Guest 1234512596 - 18:31 14-02-2018

Windows 10 is the worst "operating system" I've ever had the misfortune to come across, and you must have been paid a lot to write this sh*tty article. It's unstable, tries to "update" itself every time I switch my machine on, and contains several totally unnecessary bits of junk that you can't simply delete, chief amongst the Cortana. What's this meant to be able to do that's so good? I understand that an "education version" has now been announced so that students have to take exams without Cortana giving them the answers. I'll bet the rest of us aren't able to buy it though. And I have one question about Edge. Why? Why? Why try to replace a perfectly good Internet Explorer with a second rate setup like Edge?

Windows 7 was reported to have security problems. Weren't they fixable? Why introduce Windows 8? People haven't all opted for tablets, after all. And why replace Windows 8 with something even worse?

Dr Steve George

Keith Belair - 12:23 07-05-2017

Windows 10 is the best advertisement that Microsoft ever produced for Apple Computers. It's horrid!!!

Kevin Gone Home - 18:25 23-02-2017

From win 95 through to win 10 , they are all operating systems that work. Yes some work better than others.

win 10 for me does not work properly, having 5Mb broadband M$ takes a large chunk, but so does every additional app installed as they look for updates,, result : wait for 10 minute, which allows all apps to update. Half that time with Millenium, Vista and win 7.

As for the LOCK screen it's unnessessary, but serves a perpose, I press NumLock and then enter the numbers which form part of my password. For some reason win 10 does not enable NumLock, why ?

My opinion, it then works nearly as-well as win 7, which is still my main PC, laptop has win 10 (and used as needed).

To me cortana is a waste and a better system search is needed.

OneDrive or Cloud based storage is also unnessessary, and a-lot easier to hack and copy (so I'm told) , I use an external and a pen drive.

Do not have or need a smart phone the land-line works just fine and is cheaper.

70% of the new apps are of zero use to me.

Photo, Music, Movies and TV using MPC- HC, and some light gaming are main uses.

As with updates I tend to leave my Wi-Fi connecton off untill needed this does delay most updates so does installing Spybot Anti-beacon, which also blocks a-lot of M$ data collecting. (don't tell M$).

Start menu not a fan but it works, Classic Shell will give it the look of win 7.

like all versions of windows settings are still in several locations a lot more then 2. If they put then all in one place you would have several more sections, than the 9 you already have.

One nice feacture is the extra snapping feature, giving 4 small windows on a 16:10 large monitor. No good for a laptop with a 16: 9 display. Bring back the 5:4 and 4:3 displays.

-added a wonderful "Quick Access" function, which blocks a third of my screen and freezes all the time. Wow!

So: "the best windows yet"?! Ha! I'm going to look for a way to roll it back to windows 8 or even 7 if I can!

BruceTN - 21:10 14-12-2016

With the latest upgrade, I am even happier that I only migrated one computer to Win10 and left the others on Win7. Removing all of my desktop icons (most shortcuts, but some documents) makes me even more convinced that I need to find some other OS before support for Win7 ends.

fontanaac92 - 05:09 31-10-2016

Windows 10 is awesome, I do not understand why people say that w10 sucks, sincerly i think you all are a bunch of purists idiots who dont accept inovation, I was an avid hater of Windows 10 when it first came out, but after the anniversary update now it runs faster in my PC, I had Windows 7 for 3 years never formated my PC now I had updated to Windows 10 and it runs just fine, my PC is a low end garbage but can do all sort of things

Justin Wilson - 17:00 21-10-2016

The title of this article couldn't be more wrong! Windows 10 is a pile of bull crap disguised as Windows 7. If you are looking for a reliable OS that doesn't update itself, reset settings, delete drivers, and have many compatibility issues with professional software, than don't buy this.

Ellem Chang - 14:45 06-09-2016

Why so many users give negative comments about Windows 10? In fact it"s the best OS. May be there are bugs yet to be taken care of. You can rely on MS to take necessary steps to remedy them. Let's not be so fast to jump to conclusions. As long as you've a decent machine Windows 10 will run smoothly. So guys, embark on your voyage in the Windows 10 boat for smooth sailing. One time I was also one of those condemning Windows 10. Now I feel guilty using the same singing praises.

Ken Z - 15:24 08-08-2016

Well it is plain as the sun in the day sky. This article is obviously way off on the assessment of Win 10. Look at the overwhelming number of negative posts througout and it is pretty easy to tell exactly what most folks think of Win 10. LOL!

You might want to give the shiny new Linux Mint 18 a spin. It will change the way you think about computing. It installs from scratch and updates in minutes and comes fully loaded for just about anything you want to do. Very easy to use and is also secure and private. You simply cannot beat desktop Linux.

Chris94653145 - 08:17 02-08-2016

new Start menu, Edge browser, apps and Cortana make Windows 10 the best Windows yet.

These are the things that make me utterly HATE WINDOWS 10!

Start menu is a mess!

edge browser just as useless as explorer

Apps? I have to pay money to watch movies on my laptop! Don't get me started on the Photo app abomination.

Cortana? Are you kidding me with this? why is a program that records everything you say and sent back to MICROSOFT not called what it is? Cortana is massive spy/crap/malware nothing more.

The entire OS system is Malware Bloatware Crapware Spyware gift wrapped as a free Operating system.

someotherguy - 06:10 17-06-2016

My personal point of view: MS is trying to grab a piece of the cake that was, until now, the domain for google and his android: "smart"phone OS and the apps philosophy. It's very late for that, as most of the users of this domain have already shifted to android (the low percentage of users of the Windows OS on phones is the clear answer to that!)(and, despite the claimed " one OS for all devices, the phone w10 is a COMPLETELY different software; only the file compatibility is the coomon link between them).

The essential mistake, and the diabolical persistance in it is the fact that a rather large part of Windows users were using it JUST because it was NOT a OS for touch devices. And, of course not all, but an increasing part of those will migrate to other OSes (personally i would learn to use some OS much lighter, as windoze remains a ressource hog, a notorious bloatware that cant run decently without many gigabytes of ram and very fast processors, to do what?

From Vista (included) you can call it Win-bloated.

For the last W10, all i can say is that it has been released much too early, with too many bugs, and a very unfinished design (aspect). At the present date (june '16), the product has matured somewhat, and runs somehow decently; but.... as a non-professional IT/software user, it didn't impressed me under any aspect. The xt is muuch smaller and does what i need very well on an older computer. Why would i spent a lot of money for?

The so much praised enhancements are mostly BS: the "security" is, as always WEAK, so if you REALLY want some protection you must BUY some program from Kaspersky or Bitdefender; The Cortana "feature" is just for the handicaped persons, and the "cloud" facilities are just an easier way to check someone's files, making that idiots pay for that (and, eventually the increased and useless data traffic) (the "encription" is just a bad joke, in my opinion).

I didn't used the W10 so much so to collide with the mandatory updates, nor have the driver issues (this will be forever a problem for an OS that is expected to run on (almost) ALL configurations), and I didn't have to search for all the settings, as the OS has been installed on my daughter's computer, by a friend of hers (I checked some of the settings, guided by some advice, it is indeed rather labirintic to make those settings manually; as that computer is rather rarely used (my daughter is abroad for some time), i didn't bother to check if some update has modified those settings, as I read somwhere).

The installed browser is Firefox, and it didn't changed (the user is...used to it, and personally, after the long string of bad IE I woudn't give NO chance to ANY MS browser (I understood that, as good as they might be, the MS people CANT write a good browser (chrome is another failure, but from a different angle, much too nosy).

So, in conclusion, I don't love it, but I don't hate it either; worse, I see it as a failure....

trev107 - 20:10 12-06-2016

''Edge browser, apps and Cortana make Windows 10 the best Windows yet ...''

sorry i totally disagree . can't stand cortana , what is the point of it ? . windows edge , well i have yahoo so i don't use that either. most of the apps i have taken off as i have no need or use for them . what i do want is to be able to delete all the apps i dont want without a default where we're stuck with the crap. have full control of text sizes and fonts , can't change them about like before so a step way back in time . windows 10 has taken all what was good about windows , chucked them all away and left us with what they think we want and got it completely wrong , but we have no choice but to use this sh1te now , thanks for nothing

scottferguson - 01:46 03-06-2016

Dear Microsoft, you suck! How you can suck so bad after 30 years of doing what you do it is hard to say. Thank goodness for Google and Apple and Linux. I had to install windows 10 and after I said make Chrome my default browser guess what? You cant right click an icon on the desktop! When I google the problem guess what? Zillions of others with the same issue. Who would know I have to go through byzantine machinations to get your software to be able to rename a file on the freakin desktop. You guys should be embarrassed.

nwfmike - 06:59 21-05-2016

Lot of FUD being spread by "people" although I'm sure some legitimate complaints. Me? I upgraded my Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro from Windows 8.1 to 10 the first day that Windows 10 was announced. Flawless and has been absolutely flawless since then. I concur with everything mentioned in the article. Windows will only get better.

Privacy issues are a fact of life with every popular consumer oriented OS (Windows, android, ios, osx). Even Ubuntu has faced the wrath of users upset that their data was being shared. Apparently the latest version fixes that but believe me, if Ubuntu every managed to achieve anything approaching mainstream, users will have to constantly vigilant regarding their privacy.

As mentioned in the article, it is very easy..takes all of 5
minutes to set up your privacy settings. I have just about everything
set to off.

I do get that Microsoft is pissing off a bunch of people with these forced updates, but their are many more (just guessing) happy but forced updaters.

Full disclosure, I have 3 Android devices (all running Microsoft services). My Samsung tablet hasen't been updated past 5.0 (what it came with) and never will. My 2 Sony Xperia Z phones are updated to Marshmallow. I have a laptop and a brand new PC build with Windows 10 - 0 issues.

Like it or not FUD purveyors, Windows 10 is now on 300million and counting devices. 1 billion total in a little over two years is entirely attainable. This was THE opening that both Apple and Google had hoped for to get a foothold into Windows PC domination, but it's been a non-existant response other than the Internet pogues barking "Privacy!" "Forced Update!" LOL.

Ruff!!

Barrie Jones - 06:04 13-05-2016

Windows 10 has too many problems to be worth trying. Unless you're into creating problems for yourself...

I have had to restore the old OS's (usually windows 7) on so many friends PC's that made the mistake of downgrading to windows 10. Some had hardware issues... Some were software issues... Some, like me hate the way the thing looks.

That plain and toddler inspired interface is as ugly as vomit on a wedding dress...

I have no use for most of the so called 'features' of Windows 10... At best, Cortana was a novelty for all of 15 minutes.

No need for Xbox interface...

And adverts show up on the Start Menu and lock screen unless you figure out how to stop them... Which will probably only work until Microsoft bypasses that...

I would not install this spyware laden OS on any computer with sensitive information on it. I wouldn't want to be a photographer trying explain to a client that their photo, particularly boudoir photos, are secure especially when even I am not sure they are! If I was a lawyer or a doctor or any other sensitive profession I wouldn't use Windows 10.

Every week, one reads about more and more problems with it...

It's like Microsoft breaks something new weekly trying to fix what they broke last week... as one of my friends said "Why bother with aggravation? It's more work than its worth to keep it running!"

Then too, it takes away Window Media Center, and even Solitaire is no longer free.

Recently, MS has started removing 'features' without asking. Cortana now has to use Bing as a search engine only instead of Google. FM Radio has been removed from the mobile version. How long before they start removing other things from it?

Windows 7 is staying on my computers for the foreseeable future...

Doug Stewart-McMillan - 19:18 09-05-2016

I think Microsoft prides itself in reducing well known and respected brands to crap these days. Take Nokia for instance, it's absolute rubbish now it's been transformed into Windows Phone, and the same pitiful situation now seems to be overtaking Windows. Windows XP Pro was the pinnacle of user controlled operating systems, by that I mean having total control of your own machine, closely followed by Windows 7. 7 is as far as my association with Microsoft will go......10 seems to have been designed by the thought police in Orwells 1984. They have taken away all those very useful controls that we take for granted in the right click. We can turn off the webcam and microphone on our home PC or Laptop.....They can turn it back on!! But why would they do that? So many people ask in conversation........I don't know, but they have. There is ONE very, very, VERY good thing about Windows 10, and I will love Windows 10 forever for this......... I got a brand new, state of the art, all singing, all dancing Laptop £150 off the list price because it was promoting Windows 10 !!! I was so impressed, I took it straight home and made love to it by giving it an UPGRADE, yes, you read that right, an UPGRADE to a brand new copy, downloaded at a reduced price from Amazon, of Windows 7 Ultimate 64. Love it!! Thankyou very much for producing such utter rubbish Microsoft. That's money in the pocket and a stunning new laptop for me.... LoL

Johnnie Ringo Mills Priddle - 21:16 03-05-2016

I would strongly advise anybody taking up the free windows 10 to get their product key off first, as when you upgrade they change your key and you will not be able to go back if you miss the deadline to roll back without it. I started having all sorts of problems running a Dell Inspiron15 5000 series, i7, 8gig ram, windows 8.1. After upgrading apps started disappearing, it was messing up the internet and slowing it down considerably. I thought I would try it as I read somewhere that Microsoft had stopped slowing things down intentionally But it hasn't worked for me!

Arve Omic - 20:29 02-05-2016

Windows 10 is nice and flashy for tablet and app users. Not for dekstop / laptop and program users.

omendata - 16:06 02-05-2016

It has its faults but its a modern OS for the times!

Windows 7 is more useable and i miss certain things and ways of doing operations that have changed in Windows 10.

Microsoft really should have had one OS for Tablets and one for the Desktop - I would have thought with their money making versions this would have been natural but it seems not!

For me my main gripe is Outlook Express - I still use Windows XP purely for this - I wish they would make a decent Mail app that i can pull all my rules and settings from OE over from - Mail is awful - Thunderbird is nice but I still like OE.I guess times change and peeps just have to get used to the new look - Its the old fart syndrome i guess!

For tech support operatives and engineers, I must admit Windows 10 does make things far more complicated than it need be! The settings menu apart from control panel - whats that all about? Inability to see the free space on a drive without having to right click and get properties is a pain. With windows 10 learning all the shortcut keys is now a necessity to avoid multiple clicking and swiping. Disappearing sound volume control in the task bar and no more animated network icons to right click. For us techies it is a pain but liveable but for the average desktop user they seem to get along fine!

Geert W - 13:17 02-05-2016

"The best Windows yet"?! Are you kidding? I upgraded my Windows 8 - with which I had a terrible experience - and Windows 10 even overcame it! Everything is upside down, all file icons in Windows Commander are now blue and I can't easily recognize the type of file, the Start button is loaded with useless crap that I am not interested in, I can't even find the most elementary functions such as "Programs", the lower bar does not highlight programs that are on... Everything is only worse. So worse that I can't even work on my computer and I must return back to Windows 7.

Thomas Dahl - 21:08 29-04-2016

My comments are not getting published, presumably as I disagree with the reviewer. What a joke.

Chris94653145 - 07:46 28-04-2016

I uninstalled windows 10 photo app and reinstall the Windows 7 photo viewer. Now am looking to replace Photo viewer. There is nothing MS can do to make me use that photo abomination. Win10 Photo App took the 20,000 plus photos and copied them all, the older photos were duplicated each day in a new dated folder, and my laptop would crash over and over. Then I found the "how to guide" to removing the photo app. When it was uninstalled my photos returned to normal.

I hate Windows 10 with a passion! it is the most unfriendly OS I've ever used!

case in point: With Win7, I plug my phone/Digital camera into my Laptop. Click ok on the pop up window and I was done. The photos would all download to a dated folder on my external hard drive. No copies or duplicates ever!

Win 10 photo app: Every time Id plug it in, it would create A dated folder but also duplicate the photos that were already in the photo app so each dated folder became bigger and bigger.

The day 2 folder. Had a 100 or so pics, they get a dated folder plus 2 duplicates/copies of the 56,000 from day one. this folder has 112,000 plus photos

day 3 folder gets 3 duplicates from the day one folder of 56,000, 2 duplicates from the 100 or so pics on day 2. now this folder has 168,000 photos

day 4 284,000 plus photos in this folder

day 5 489,000 plus photos in this folder

then it started crashing relentlessly

Yes this still happened with the duplicate feature ON! I tried to find my pictures on my laptops hard drive they were no where to be found. Once they're in the win10 photo App there really isn't anything you can do with with them.

Try just moving them to an external hard drive it can not be done in Windows 10 photo app.

when I uninstalled the Windows 10 photo app this problem was solved. all the duplicates vanished but my original organization has been lost, all my photos are a mess.

Windows 10 is horrible!

WareZ wolF - 17:12 26-04-2016

At this point I have to assume the review was authored by a professional reviewer and NOT a professional user of computers.

martin ison - 12:28 20-04-2016

i got an automatic update to windows 10 and lost my old solitaire and my cd player will not work.

being physically and visually challenged it is unfortunate to say the least.

to add to my new woes i'm one of the technically unwashed.

i cannot even contact Cortana.

will windows advise me in simple uncomplicated english what to do to rectify these omissions

Anoher grumpy old git - 08:36 11-04-2016

My beloved old laptop flying Vista died recently. It had been limping on for about 6 years after having suffered a lightening strike in Greece.

So thought to replace it with another laptop with lots of memory and disc space. It would seem however that every new laptop (apart from Apple) runs on this OS 10.

What a load of overcomplicated over bloated, over stuffed, over marketed piece of junk.

It was obviously designed by children to keep other small children amused.

It's just taken me a quarter hour to work out how to do a backup to another hard drive for Gods sake.

Being strapped for cash I lumped for an HP which is nice, BUT OH how I wished I'd saved up and bought an Apple.

Frankly Microsoft have lost the plot - I also remember when XP was good to have.

But hey why should a billionaire give a toss about what I think and frankly Bill you can shove it up your a****

Migwell - 16:30 01-04-2016

An extra thought to my previous rant about Windows in general. My 1Tb computer was getting a bit on the full side and I was thinking about replacing the hard drive to a 2Tb drive to give me the space I thought I needed. But as I said, I thought I would go Apple. After I sized up all my Photographs, Music and everyday files of letters spread sheets etc. I found that there was not as much stuff on the computer as I had thought. What was taking up the space as there was only close to 100Gb left. on this 1Tb drive.

When I bought the apple with a 1Tb drive and put all my Photographs, Music and Everyday Files onto this computer it reported that I had 835 Gb of space left on this computer. The Windows thing must have had a lot of Microsoft junk on it taking up all that space. I had run various programs on it to find out if I could get rid of anything but nothing was found but it still reported the Windows computer was growing under the strain.

Conclusion to this story is that I am very happy to have said GOODBY to Windows in any form.

Migwell - 16:13 01-04-2016

I only tried it for a week then took it off and reverted back to win 7. I don't know why I bothered with Windows 10, as I had been very very happy with Windows 7 since I got it and had never questioned why. It just ran as smooth as silk and I knew where everything was that I wanted. I am not an expert that could tell you everything there is under the sun about Windows 7, but I knew all I wanted and needed to know.

So when my HP computer eventually needed replacing I plumped for an Apple iMac. A lot easier than Windows 10 and a bit better than Windows 7, very little learning curve was needed at the time of change over to Apple. Now when I look back, on the odd occasion to my laptop with Windows 7 on it I feel a bit lost.

Henryhenryhenry - 22:55 31-03-2016

I uninstalled Windows 10 the same afternoon. It slowed my system to a crawl. Programs, utilities, functions, even email took forever to load or respond, to the point of making my computer useless! And where did familiar taskbars and toolbars go??

Some guy - 21:04 25-03-2016

Sorry pretty sure its the Worst OS ever.

Guest 43174 - 02:31 10-03-2016

[Redacted] An OS that gets worse with ever release lately. I'm old so some of you don't remember this but there was a time we actually looked forward to the next release of MS-DOS. Not anymore